A VERY FAMILIAR FACE

A familiar face is back at Brunton Park this afternoon as Watford striker Joe Garner, once a Blues favourite, rejoins the club on an initial one-month loan deal.

Blackburn-born Garner, 24, first joined the Cumbrians from his home town club on a half-season loan deal in January 2007 and he made the move permanent when he chose Carlisle ahead of Dundee just before the start of the 2007/08 campaign.

He grabbed 19 goals in his 53 appearances and attracted attention from higher up the ladder, and he made a big money move to Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2008 where he signed a four-year contract.

First team chances were limited at the City Ground and he had loan spells with Huddersfield and Scunthorpe before he joined Watford for an undisclosed fee in August last year.

Manager Greg Abbott said: "We needed a bit of depth in that position and Joe is one who has experience of playing at this level and higher.

"We know all about his qualities from his time with us a few seasons ago and we're looking forward to working with him again. He has that hunger to play football, he wants to be here and we think this will be another of those moves which will work out well for everybody."

We'll have reaction from Joe Garner on the Official site later this afternoon.